It’s only when it is cold that you think about layers and keeping warm without being too bulky. If you like to wear fashionable clothes, you can still wear some thinner layers underneath your clothes like tights, and some exercise wear that is made for outdoors. The only trick to these is not to wait until it is 2 degrees below zero to decide that you want to purchase these for cold weather.

If you are like me and like the longer undershirts to wear under sweaters for greater warmth, before you head to the ladies section and have to pay $12 for one undershirt. Go to the men’s section and buy a package of men’s undershirts where you can get three for the same price and even in neutral colors – such as black and taupe. Also, the men’s are longer and will stay tucked into your pants or skirt, unlike the women’s.

Don’t buy the bulky long underwear or thin footless tights. Buy some running wear out of material that will wick away the perspiration. If your office is cold you will not feel as though you have on too many clothes but will still be comfortable.

Dressing warmly doesn’t have to cost a fortune. If there is an item that you like to wear but it isn’t heavy enough, layer it and it can hep keep you warm.

The sum of the parts is equal to the whole. That sounds all good and well except when you are thinking about something like trail mix or a snack mix. If you like those for a quick energy boost or eat trail mix as part of a healthy breakfast, do you always like what is in the mix?

I have seen mixed nuts in a container at parties and invariably the almonds are left. I personally like almonds, but in trail mix, I don’t like raisins or Brazil Nuts (filberts).

A way to get around this is to buy the nuts I like and then blend them together for my own mix. This way there is no waste. This also allows me to control the amount of sodium, and proportion of my favorite or less favorite nuts.

Even if you are buying a box of assorted items, make sure that you like all of them, otherwise you will be wasting money. Unless this is such a great deal that it is less expensive to buy the assorted package and you will foist the undesirable parts off on someone else or it is for a party where there is a variety of people who will partake in the mix.

For yourself – buy what you like, even if you have to spend a little more but you now you will eat all of it… this saves you money. The part that you waste, even if it was cheaper, is still wasted.

Need to ship a package? The post office still has very competitive rates and will pick up packages from your home. I’ve said this before. But now you can save a little bit by preparing your shipping label at home, and paying online. Even on priority service. You could just drop off your package at the post office or if you have prepared earlier, schedule a pick up.

I sent a package the other day which needed to arrive by tomorrow. Delivery confirmation is free and your card is not charged until your package is processed.

I saved 45 cents off the cost of the priority shipping rates. And I used boxes that I had already requested from the post office were free. All I had to do was print the label, cut it out and then tape it to the box. If I sent packages more often, I could buy adhesive labels and use those but labels printed on computer paper are acceptable, just don’t tape over the bar code.

Free supplies, quick service and less costly than the competitors. Plus, they will even pick up from your home as early as the next delivery day if you request a pickup by 2:00 a.m. (CST) when they drop off the mail. Any number of packages – up to 70 pounds with prepaid shipping.

That’s a great deal, for a great price.

The Chicago area did not get a blizzard and actually though it is cold outside, it is a nice clear, windy day.

Grocery shopping was a success, Something I wanted to buy and try it out was being given away as samples so I got to try it before I bought it anyway. Great.

As I was strolling down the aisles gathering my food from the list I made I thought about stocking up on certain things. Since Chicago is an urban area and I do live in the city proper, it is highly unlikely that I would be snowed in for a few days. Stocking up on lots of food would be highly unnecessary. I do like to stock up though. Buying things that are non perishable is something I do. Even when some perishable items are on sale, I do like to take advantage of the pricing. This may mean that I will change what I am eating for the week, or, I could freeze some ground beef or chicken if the price is great. Only within reason.

If you are buying toilet paper, lotion or items that you use daily, stocking up isn’t a real issue. It is a necessity in order to stretch your dollars. Even if milk is cheaper for a gallon but I only need a pint for a recipe I wouldn’t stock up on it. If I see facial tissues on sale, I will buy those. Even though I have stopped using paper napkins, I like disposable tissues because of the germ factor and use them for blotting lipstick.

There are benefits to stocking up on items that you commonly use, you have an opportunity to save money and not have to make a trip to the store just to buy one item. Also, you will have more time to seek out a sale or good price on items that you need.

I did some stocking up after Christmas on soaps, lotions and bath gels which should last me through the fall. I use the bath gels daily and soap and lotion throughout the day. Plus, when in a pinch for a gift for someone, I can to grab a couple of things, creatively wrap them in a basket and instant gift with no additional cost!

Tomorrow a blizzard is being forecast for the Chicago area so I am going to get some groceries and run some errands this afternoon so that I will be prepared.

This made me start thinking about my shopping list. I am going to Trader joe’s and I know the layout of the one I am going to very well so I am writing my list in that order so that when I go the store I will have a really easy time getting all of my groceries. It may seem odd but that way everything is in order and I won’t have to make several trips through the store searching and “finding” things that I don’t really need.

Since a blizzard is possibly in the works having food in the house is a necessity. I have enough gas in the car in case I do need to go out.

Planning and making a list especially when you need to get errands run and are pressed for time makes the trip to the store much more enjoyable and a list will help you keep the money that you have in your wallet.

This is especially true when I go shopping with my father we go directly to get the items we are going to get. My mother had to meander and look in each and every aisle. A quick trip to the store with her takes a long time. Whereas in the same time with my dad we can go to three or four stores. Also, we don’t spend a lot of extra money on items that we didn’t go to the store for.

Planning ahead will save me a little cash!